# National Switch

> Source: https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/standards/national-switch
> research date 2026-05-29 · extracted at 2026-10-07
> Publisher: Barcoder — encyclopedia of QR, barcode and payment-code standards

Specifications:
- [Comoros National Switch — PayLogic](https://pay-logic.com/paylogic-announces-the-go-live-of-the-comoross-national-interoperable-payment-switch/)

## Overview

> **Note on classification.** This entry was originally bucketed as a QR standard, but National Switch is **not a QR-symbol standard**. It is reclassified as `Interbank rail` — a comoros interbank rail (paylogic, mvola). The wiki shows no playground because there is no QR payload to encode; the slug is retained to avoid breaking incoming links.

**National Switch** (Comoros) refers to the **Comoros National Interoperable Payment Switch** + **Komor Switch** + **Komor Pay (Ats)** infrastructure — Comoros's modern payment-system stack going live in **April 2026** <sup>[1][1], [2][2], [Comoros report](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/payments/KM)</sup>. The system **establishes a unified payment infrastructure that connects commercial banks, microfinance institutions, and mobile money operators across the Union of Comoros**. The go-live is part of the **Financial Sector Development Support Project (PADSF)**, supported by the **World Bank**, representing **a cornerstone of Comoros's strategy to reduce reliance on cash, modernize its financial sector, and expand access to digital services**.

The structural significance: Comoros is **one of the world's smallest island nations + previously had limited interbank payment infrastructure**. The **dual-system architecture** (Komor Switch for cards + Komor Pay/Ats for interbank) provides comprehensive modernisation:
- **Komor Switch** — central platform for **card payments at terminals + interconnection + transaction processing** between banks (rapid, secure, reliable).
- **Komor Pay (Ats)** — **interbank system reserved exclusively for banks**, operational since **April 23, 2026**, **enabling secure processing, clearing, and settlement in central bank currency** — **reduces processing time for checks and transfers from 3 days to 1 business day** via **120 km fiber-optic network**.

**PayLogic** is the technology partner (also building **Equatorial Guinea BANGE digital payments + Sao Tome GTI Switch**), illustrating **PayLogic's specialisation in small-African-nation payment-modernisation projects**. The **Banque Centrale des Comores (BCC)** oversees the national payment system, also operating **SYCOCO** (Système de Compensation Comorien — primary interbank-clearing for checks + paper instruments).

## History

**Background — Comoros payment landscape** <sup>[Comoros report](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/payments/KM)</sup>:
- **Banque Centrale des Comores (BCC)** — central bank.
- Pre-modernisation: SYCOCO check-and-paper-instrument clearing.
- 3-day check-and-transfer processing.
- Limited interbank-payment infrastructure.

**Financial Sector Development Support Project (PADSF) launch** <sup>[1][1]</sup>:
- World Bank-supported.

**Comoros government tender for interbank-payment switch acquisition** [[tender-km]]:
- PADSF procurement.

**PayLogic selection as technology partner** <sup>[1][1]</sup>:
- Multi-African-nation payment-system specialist.

**Komor Switch go-live** <sup>[1][1]</sup>:
- Card-payment-platform interconnection.

**April 23, 2026 — Komor Pay (Ats) operational** <sup>[2][2]</sup>:
- Interbank-payment system.
- 3-day → 1-business-day check/transfer processing.
- 120 km fiber-optic network.

## Technical specification

National Switch (Comoros) is **BCC + World Bank + PayLogic-coordinated Comoros payment-modernisation stack** <sup>[1][1], [2][2]</sup>:

| Layer | Description |
|---|---|
| **Sponsor** | **Banque Centrale des Comores (BCC)** |
| **Funder** | **World Bank (PADSF — Financial Sector Development Support Project)** |
| **Technology partner** | **PayLogic** |
| **Country** | Union of Comoros |
| **Currency** | KMF (Comorian franc) |
| **Komor Switch** | Card-payment interconnection platform |
| **Komor Pay (Ats)** | Interbank system, operational April 23, 2026 |
| **Network** | 120 km fiber-optic |
| **Settlement speed** | 3-day → 1-business-day |
| **Participants** | Commercial banks, microfinance institutions, mobile money operators |

**SYCOCO** [[wb-km]]:
- Comoros's primary interbank-clearing for checks + paper instruments.

## Use cases

**Card-payment interconnection (Komor Switch)** <sup>[1][1]</sup>: Cardinal — multi-bank card-acceptance.

**Interbank check + transfer settlement (Komor Pay/Ats)** <sup>[2][2]</sup>: 3-day → 1-day acceleration.

**Microfinance institution participation** <sup>[1][1]</sup>: Financial inclusion expansion.

**Mobile money operator integration** <sup>[1][1]</sup>: Multi-channel coverage.

**Cash-reduction objective** <sup>[1][1]</sup>: PADSF goal.

**Modern digital-services expansion** <sup>[1][1]</sup>: PADSF goal.

## Implementations & ecosystem

**Sponsor**: **Banque Centrale des Comores (BCC)**.

**Funder**: **World Bank** (PADSF).

**Technology partner**: **PayLogic** (also Sao Tome GTI Switch + Equatorial Guinea BANGE).

**Participating institutions**: Comorian commercial banks, microfinance institutions, mobile money operators.

**Companion**: **SYCOCO** check + paper-instrument clearing.

## Fun facts

- **120 km fiber-optic network**: Comoros-island-archipelago-spanning infrastructure.
- **3-day → 1-business-day processing acceleration**: Major modernisation.
- **April 23, 2026 Komor Pay (Ats) go-live**: Recent.
- **World Bank PADSF support**: Multi-million-dollar modernisation backing.
- **PayLogic specialisation**: Small-African-nation payment-system specialist.
- **Dual-system architecture (Komor Switch + Komor Pay/Ats)**: Comprehensive design.
- **Unified bank + microfinance + mobile-money operator participation**: Inclusive financial-system design.
- **Banque Centrale des Comores sponsorship**: Central-bank-driven modernisation.

## Comparison

| Feature | National Switch (KM) | [GTI Switch](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/standards/gti-switch) (ST PayLogic) | [BANGE Digital](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/standards/bange-digital) (GQ PayLogic) | [gh-link](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/standards/gh-link) (GH) | NIBSS NIP (NG) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sponsor | BCC | Banco Central de São Tomé e Príncipe | BANGE (commercial) | BoG | CBN |
| Type | **National-switch dual-system (Komor Switch + Komor Pay/Ats)** | National switch | Digital card + payment | National switch | National switch |
| Tech partner | **PayLogic** | PayLogic | PayLogic | n/a | n/a |
| Funder | **World Bank PADSF** | Local | Commercial | Local | Local |
| Network | **120 km fiber-optic** | Local | National | National | National |

## Status

**Active, recently launched** <sup>[1][1], [2][2]</sup>:
- **Komor Switch operational**.
- **Komor Pay (Ats) operational April 23, 2026**.
- **3-day → 1-day check/transfer processing**.
- **BCC + World Bank + PayLogic coordination**.
- **Banks + microfinance + mobile money operators integrated**.

## Sources

[1]: https://pay-logic.com/paylogic-announces-the-go-live-of-the-comoross-national-interoperable-payment-switch/ "Comoros National Switch — PayLogic"
[2]: https://www.mayottehebdo.com/actualite/economie/comores-lancement-de-nouveaux-systemes-de-paiement/ "Comoros new payment systems — Mayotte Hebdo"
[wb-km]: https://documents1.worldbank.org/curated/en/812791592801563444/pdf/Comoros-Payments-and-Settlement-Systems-Oversight-Policy-Framework.pdf "Comoros Payment Systems Regulatory Framework — World Bank"
[tender-km]: https://www.tendersontime.com/tenders-details/acquisition-interbank-electronic-payment-switching-platform-comoros-6116168/ "Comoros switch tender — TendersOnTime"

- [1] [Comoros National Switch — PayLogic][1]
- [2] [Comoros new payment systems — Mayotte Hebdo][2]
- [wb-km] [Comoros Payment Systems Regulatory Framework — World Bank][wb-km]
- [tender-km] [Comoros switch tender — TendersOnTime][tender-km]
- <sup>[Comoros report](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/payments/KM)</sup> `reports/countries/KM-comoros.md`

## Deployments

_No country reports mention this standard by name._